WASHINGTON – A Pasadena, Maryland man is facing a potential sentence of four consecutive life terms after prosecutors say he pleaded guilty to burning down a family’s home in a jealous rage.
State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County Wes Adams says Justin Michael Crum, 26, pleaded guilty to a 25-count indictment, which asserts he attempted to kill four people.
“He burned the house down of the male who had been involved with his on again, off again girlfriend,” Adams says.
That man was renting a room from a family of three. Adams says after he burned the Glen Burnie house on July 17 last year, Crum returned to take pictures of the destruction.
“To risk that much life over a lovers’ quarrel or a lovers’ spat is really egregious,” Adams says.
Crum faces four counts of attempted first degree murder and attempted second degree murder, two counts of first degree arson, and one count of second degree arson.
He also faces four counts of first and second degree assault and reckless endangerment, one count of malicious burning and one count of malicious destruction of property.
A judge will decide if the charges, which carry four life sentences plus 60 years, fit the crime.
